January 27, 2009: AtlasFram Group Manager appointed to HGCA’s R&D Committee

John Humphreys, Arable Products Manager for the AtlasFram Group (the UK’s largest farmer-owned farm input purchasing and marketing business), has accepted an invitation to join the Home Grown Cereals Authority’s Research & Development Committee, for a three-year term.
Committee members are chosen for their ability to represent the interests of the cereals and oilseeds sectors with particular emphasis - in Mr Humphreys’ case - on the links with agronomists.
He will represent the co-operative sector of the market (United Grain Producers) on the R & D Committee, whose primary responsibility is to evaluate and recommend for funding Research and Development and Knowledge Transfer proposals relating to production, harvesting, storage and processing.
The Committee works to develop a range of programmes through pro-active commissioning of initiatives and also fulfils an important role in directing research strategy. Funded through the cereals and oilseeds levies, these projects represent over UK£4m of expenditure, with the aim of improving and enhancing the sustainability of the UK cereals and oilseeds industries, including aspects such as profitability, competitiveness, environmental protection and product safety.
A primary goal of the work is to deliver information to the appropriate stakeholder groups.
Mr Humphreys has held several key arable positions in the industry, most recently being responsible for co-ordinating BASF’s national activities in the non-distributor-advised sector before joining AtlasFram Group in April 2008 as Arable Products Manager.
He is responsible for its activities across the ag-chem, seed and fertiliser sectors at a time of rapid change within the agricultural supply industry. His remit also includes strengthening and co-ordinating AtlasFram’s relationship with members’ independent agronomists, providing up-to-the-minute information on aspects such as product availability, prices and supporting data.
Mr Humphreys also leads the Group’s interface with suppliers and manufacturers, ensuring that its Framlingham based purchasing team have access to the latest information.
“It is a great honour to have been asked to join this prestigious Committee and continue to develop the type of projects and knowledge transfer programmes instigated by, for example, the late Alan Bide, who founded Hampshire Arable Systems in 1978,” says Mr Humphreys.
“This is also an excellent opportunity to represent the type of farmers who make up a large percentage of our membership and, equally, to increase awareness of the HGCA’s valuable work to farmers and agronomists,” he adds.

More information: